Sully & Juno come out tops at Wexford Local Enterprise Awards congratulationS!

2 OUT OF 2 FOR WEXFORD’S SULLY & JUNO!

Thursday, 23rd of February, was a very important day in the business lives of Sully & Juno founders Nina Shelton and Gillian Duggan-White.

Following their success last December on the Late Late’s Taking Care of Business Show, where they took home a bursary worth €15,000 for their adaptive and sensory clothing business based in Wexford, Nina and Gill have just become Wexford’s finalist for 2023 in the National Enterprise Awards.

Shortlisted by Wexford Local Enterprise Office, the finalists in this year’s Wexford finals of the National Enterprise Awards included a range of business across a variety of sectors – food and drinks, manufacturing, textiles, engineering and software.

Eventually, following an application and shortlisting process, six businesses were chosen to compete for the opportunity to represent Wexford at the national fi- nals in Dublin in June. The six finalists were MachineLab Ltd, Profitsflow, Yola Sourdough Bakery, New Era Spirits, The Tasty Parlour Gluten Free Bakery and Sully & Juno.

Judges Blaise Brosnan of the Management Resource Institute (MRI) and Rosemary Ward of South East Business & Innovation Centre (SEBIC), eventually nominated an overall winner, and, this year, two runners-up, such was the level of quality, innovation and business excellence in the competition.

Winners Sully & Juno took home a beautiful, newly-commissioned trophy by Wexford stained glass artist Bianca Da Vito, a voucher for €500 Training and Mentoring from Wexford Local Enterprise Office, and a cash prize of €1,500. Nina and Gill will go on to represent Wexford in the national finals of The National Enterprise Awards in Dublin’s Mansion House in June.

Joint Runners-Up Profitsflow and MachineLabs Ltd – two very different businesses in two vastly different sectors, had a number of things in common according to the judges – excellence across all business functions, innovation and constant improvement, and the attitude and driving force of the business founders. Each of the runners-up also received a stunning trophy, a framed certificate and a voucher from Wexford Local Enterprise Office for mentoring and training to a value of €200.

Presenting each of the finalists and winners with their certificates and prizes, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council George Lawlor drew attention to the realities today for small businesses. Noting the commitment and sacrifice that starting, running and staying in business means, and congratulating each of the finalists on the contribution that small and medium businesses make to the local economy and the local business landscape, An Cathaoirleach outlined a range of projects and opportunities that Wexford County Council are currently engaged in that will support and develop local business. n